Georgia State University officials announced a new police chief Tuesday, months after the university's president suggested the former chief was removed because of issues regarding communicating about crimes on campus.
Atlanta Police Department Deputy Chief Joseph P. Spillane, who leads the department’s strategy and special projects division, will begin Nov. 28, university officials said.
“I know he will use the working relationships he has developed over his career to build and strengthen collaboration between Atlanta police and our department, a partnership that is fundamental to our deep commitment to campus safety,” Georgia State President Mark Becker said in a release. “The communications skills he has demonstrated throughout his career will be central to building relationships among our students, faculty and staff and providing parents, families, the news media and others with timely, accurate and useful campus safety information.”
Former Chief Connie Sampson was removed from the role in March, the day after a double shooting in a campus parking lot in a suspected drug deal that injured a Georgia State student. Becker suggested in a note to the university community that campus notification on crimes was lacking.
“I am disappointed we did not promptly and effectively communicate what was happening last night as information became available,” he said.
University police put out an alert about the shooting about an hour after it occurred. Many complained they already had heard about the incident on newspaper and television station websites.
The shooting followed several armed robberies at the school library, and there was a growing concern among students and parents.
Spillane will manage the department, which includes about 70 officers for its downtown campus. He’ll take over from interim chief Carlton Mullis, the department’s deputy chief.
Sampson, who has worked at the university for about 20 years and led the department as associate vice president for university police and building services, now oversees building services.
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